Thrita
Volume:1 Issue: 3, Mar 2013

Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education Research (FAIMER) Regional Institutes have online discussions through the listserv as an integral component of their faculty development programs.. In this paper we describe our experiences during the PSG FAIMER regional institute (PSG-FRI) online listserv discussion on the topic ‘educational research’ and also how we could leverage some of the adult learning principles during online learning.. Two hundred and nine emails and twenty-three learning resources were exchanged and shared during the discussion. We could identify the usage of adult learning principles such as active participation, relevant learning, constructive feedback, learning built on previous knowledge and experiences, and learning in a safe non-threatening environment in our model of online learning. Learning outcomes were evident in the form of periodic (weekly) summaries of learning by the participants and a scholarly report on educational research.. Two hundred and nine emails and twenty-three learning resources were exchanged and shared during the discussion. We could identify the usage of adult learning principles such as active participation, relevant learning, constructive feedback, learning built on previous knowledge and experiences, and learning in a safe non-threatening environment in our model of online learning. Learning outcomes were evident in the form of periodic (weekly) summaries of learning by the participants and a scholarly report on educational research.. The PSG- FRI online discussion paved the way for exploring perspectives, sharing resources and debating and discussing issues pertaining to education research in the non-threatening cyberspace environment.

Habitual consumption of diets with a high glycemic index (GI) and a high glycemic load (GL) may influence breast cancer, but consistent evidence is lacking in this regard.. In this hospital-based case-control study, we evaluated the contribution of GI, GL and dietary fiber to the risk of breast cancer in Iran, 2011-2012..Patients and Data on lifestyle, diet and family history were collected from the 87 newly diagnosed breast cancer premenopausal patients and 198 five-year age-matched controls. Usual dietary intake was assessed by means of a 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), which was interviewer-administered. Dietary average GI and GL were calculated by GI of Iranian food table and international tables of GI and GL values: 2008. Multivariate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for GI and GL intake were adjusted for age and major relevant covariates based on the review of literature.. Mean ± SD GI was 59 ± 17 among control patients and 70 ± 16 among breast cancer cases; the corresponding numbers for GL were 159 ± 45 and 189 ± 44, respectively. The multivariate adjusted comparing the highest tertile of dietary GI and GL with the lowest tertile were 2.11 (95% CI 1.33-3.57; p-test for trend = 0.027) and 2.84 (95% CI 2.93-4.11; p-test for trend = 0.037) respectively with a significant trend. Fiber intake was suggestively inversely associated with breast cancer (OR = 0.79; 95% CI 0.34-0.88; p-test for trend = 0.015).. Our results suggest that high dietary levels of GI and GL and low fiber intake may have unfavorable effects on breast cancer.

The parental grief responses related to the birth of a premature neonate may intensify with hospitalization of the child in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Therefore, it is necessary that health care providers particularly nurses who are mostly in direct contact with the parents provide them with enough support to go through the process of grief.. The aim of this study was to investigate the nurses’ attitude about nursing behaviors which facilitate parents’ grief work related to having a premature neonate in the NICU.. A cross-sectional study was performed among 39 nurses working in NICUs in Al-Zahra, Kodakan and Taleghani hospitals, Tabriz, Iran in November 2011. Data collection was performed using the Fordham Scale (1989) which classifies the nursing behaviors that facilitate the grief work of parents with premature neonates in the NICU in five main dimensions. Data were explored via frequency distribution, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Data were analyzed with Chi-square test and Spearman Correlation coefficient. The mean age of nurses was 34.4 ± 7.3 years, and the mean of work experience in the NICU was 6.7 ± 3.7 years. The dimensions which were mostly provided via nursing behaviors to the parents were “Providing an environment that promotes personal development” (58.7%) and “Guiding another” (58.6%). The least provided dimensions were also “supporting physically or psychologically” (40.9%), “Acting for or doing for” (47.5%) and “Teaching another” (56%). Also, there was significant inverse relation between nurses’ attitude with nurses’ work experience (r = - 0.40, P = 0.01) and work hours in week (r = - 0.47, P = 0.004).. This study shows that the nursing supports and nursing behaviors in NICUs are almost desirably provided by the nurses. As there is no supportive program in Iran for the parents with premature neonates, compiling and implementing a supportive program is recommended in this regard.

Nurses might be exposed to various hazards which may affect their general well-being and Quality of Life (QOL).. The objective of this study was to assess the QOL in nurses working in Neyshabur hospitals and some factors associated with it, with the use of Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) scale.. This cross-sectional study was performed among nurses of Neyshabur hospitals from February to April 2012. Pearson’s correlation coefficient, t-independent test and Multiple Linear Regression Model were used for analyzing the data.. The mean age of study population was 31.02 ± 6.74 years. Of all participants, 146 persons (77.7%) were female and 42 persons (22.3%) were male. Emotional Role (RE), Vitality (VT) and Physical Role (RP) had the lowest subscale scores, while Physical Function (PF), Bodily Pain (BP) and Social Functioning (SF) had the highest subscale scores. Backward multiple linear regression model revealed that years in occupation was significantly associated with five subscales (PF, VT, SF, BP and General Health (GH)) and Mental Component Summery (MCS). Employment status was associated with PR subscale and Physical Component Summery (PCS) while house ownership was associated with PR subscale of the SF-36 scale (P < 0.05).. According to our findings, Neyshabur nurses have SF-36 scores that might indicate a relatively moderate QOL. Also, QOL in Neyshabur nurses depends on some occupational factors.

The main purpose of this study was to determine the microbial contamination and chemical quality of food prepared in the central restaurant of the Hamedan university of medical sciences.. The main purpose of this study was to determine the microbial contamination including ‎coliforms and pathogenic bacteria in food cooking and serving center of the Hamedan University of Medical sciences.. In this cross-sectional study, 150 food samples were randomly obtained from the central restaurant of the Hamedan university of medical sciences and consequently evaluated for bacterial and yeast contamination using the American public health association (APHA) and food and drug administration (FDA) standard methods. In addition, the chemical quality and outward status of food were assessed. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software (version 16.0) and descriptive and analytical statistics were used.. Rice, vegetable pot roast and kebab had the highest total bacteria and coliform count. The ‎total bacteria averages and coliform count for rice were 1.314 × 105 CFU (Colony Forming Units)/g and 1.82 × 104 CFU/g respectively. Twenty one point four percent, 60% and 20% of rice, vegetable pot roast and kebab tested samples were contaminated with E. coli, respectively‎. Significant differences were observed among total bacteria, coliforms and yeast counts of different meal samples (P = 0.02).. The results of the present study demonstrated that none of the tested samples were contaminated with ‎Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.‎ Improving methods for cooking and food processing, prevention of the secondary bacterial contaminations, continuous monitoring and surveillance of food processing are of great importance as preventive measures of food contamination.

Normal anal vein-containing-cushions are located in the wall of the rectum and anus and may become enlarged symptomatically and displaced to the distal of the anal canal and form the hemorrhoids. Multiple predisposing factors have been proposed for hemorrhoid development. Masturbation refers to the sexual self stimulation of one’s genitals, usually to the point of orgasm..Hypothesis: We hypothesized that frequent and lengthy masturbation is a predisposing factor for development of hemorrhoid..Rarionable and During masturbation, impaired venous return and consequently congestion of blood in the anal cushions and engorgement of the hemorrhoid plexus occurs. We found, through a literature review, that other conditions which enhance the development of hemorrhoids act by a similar mechanism in which venous return is impaired.. We suggest designing a research project to answer the question whether the prevalence of hemorrhoids is higher among people who have excessive and lengthy masturbation than the normal population.